O’Reilly and De Bruyne goals spare hosts FA Cup shock

Seven-time winners Manchester City came from behind through two Nico O’Reilly goals and one from Kevin De Bruyne to end Championship club Plymouth Argyle’s FA Cup run in the fifth round at Etihad Stadium.

🟢 PLYMOUTH LEAD AT THE ETIHAD! 🟢

Maksym Talovierov with a towering header 💥#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/vTxjEDehbd

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

City dominated the first half and hit a post through a curling Ilkay Gundogan shot, only to fall behind to the delight of the 8,000 away fans when Ukraine centre-back Maksym Talovierov headed in Matthew Sorinola’s delivery seven minutes before the break from Plymouth’s first corner.

CITY ARE BACK LEVEL! ⚽️

Nico O’Reilly finishes a wonderful delivery from De Bruyne ✨#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/dpNFdxnl3r

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

Just when the team who knocked Liverpool out in the previous round looked to have reached half-time with their advantage intact, O’Reilly headed in Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick to give the Premier League side a measure of relief after their opponents had punished them for the kind of generous defending that has been a feature of their uncertain form this season.

Nico O’Reilly at the DOUBLE! ⚽️⚽️

The Green Army’s resistance is finally broken!#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/TlhqTTllzU

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

The 19-year-old midfielder met Phil Foden’s delivery to head in again with 14 minutes remaining and put the Cityzens on course for a seventh consecutive quarter-final appearance.

Game. Set. Match.

Haaland tees up De Bruyne to send City through to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup 🏆#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/DCBaJj9ruQ

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

Captain De Bruyne stabbed in the 90th-minute third after substitute Erling Haaland’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Conor Hazard, sending the ball back into the path of City’s top scorer to supply the playmaker.

Pep, how’s your touch? 👀#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kubtsmOe5j

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2025

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